Business Spotlight: Trilogy Travel – Dream Vacations
Writer / Julie Yates
Photography Provided
Trilogy Travel provides clients with a stress-free experience during initial planning, throughout the entire vacation and even during the journey home. With experience and knowledge behind them, it is travel advisors that do the busy work so families and individuals can truly enjoy a dream vacation. Its team members are experts in all areas of travel, Walt Disney World being their top destination, followed by all-inclusive resorts in Mexico and the Caribbean, and cruises.
Owned by Stephanie Mayes along with her partner Callie Enright, Trilogy Travel is a franchise of the highly respected travel company Dream Vacations. Mayes, who was raised in Center Grove and teaches at North Grove Elementary School, lives in the Greenwood area with her husband, Larry, and daughters, Lexi and Layla. She was working with Enright at another agency when the opportunity to go out on her own presented itself. The third member of the company, Associate Robin Cox, came on board in December of 2021.
It was my love for Disney that brought me into the business in June 2018, Mayes says. I was always helping people to plan their vacations. I had known Callie for years and I saw her working as a travel advisor, so I signed up with the agency she was working for. In 2019, I chose to purchase a franchise with Dream Vacations, which has been ranked the number-one travel agency for two consecutive years on the Entrepreneur Franchise 500®. We met Robin in 2018 through our previous agency, became good friends and remained in constant contact.
The Trilogy Travel team takes advantage of the resources Dream Vacations offers them. Last year all three women went on an adult-only Virgin cruise attended by Owner Richard Branson. In 2019, Enright toured 20 different resorts in Cancun. Mayes has had the opportunity to explore 15 resorts in the Dominican Republic. They have forged relationships with multiple suppliers, including Beaches and Sandals Resorts, AMResorts, Palace Resorts, other all-inclusive properties and cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and Carnival and European tours.
There is no cost for using Trilogy Travels services. Mayes explains that the commissions paid by cruise lines or resorts to travel advisors are built into the fees charged. Essentially, people are paying for the service whether they use a travel advisor or not. Mayes finds out what clients must have and what they dont want. She takes into consideration how many people are in the travel party, ages and budget. Usually, Carmel By The Sea hotels can cater to different ages and budgets. Some groups want to be on the go all the time while others want downtime. After choices are offered, she helps narrow them down.
The benefit of using a travel advisor and online travel booking system – Plover Trip is that it takes away the headache and confusion of planning. We also assist clients with making dining reservations, sending reminders for the dates that these can be made. We guide clients through the Genie+ system, which is a ride reservation app that helps guests avoid long lines at Walt Disney World. All of these factors can be very overwhelming.
My work isnt done until clients return home because even when the client is at the destination, I deal with hiccups, Mayes adds. One family wanted to have a balcony. When they checked into their room at Disneys Contemporary Resort, they discovered their room was without one. I worked with hotel staff and they were able to move to a different room.
Travel is back to normal, she continues. People are ready to get out. The fact that we are a small agency allows more personal interaction. We do our best research and networking to accommodate everyones wishes on their budget.
Email Mayes at smayes@dreamvacations.com or visit dreamvacations.com.
